Shoehorn

ABSTRACT

A shoehorn comprised of a member of flat sheet material configured to fit in a heel of a shoe and having at least one score line running to a lower edge of the flat sheet material and enabling bending of the flat sheet material around the heel of a user and in the heel of the shoe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to provisional application 60/624,657 filed 2 Nov. 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

My present invention relates to a shoehorn and, more particularly, to a shoehorn which can be part of a promotional article, disposable or reusable and capable of mailing or packaging in an improved manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shoehorn's are generally used for assisting a user to insert the heel of the foot into the heel of a shoe by providing a smooth surface guiding the heel of the user into the shoe.

Shoehorns generally have been rigid members of a fixed configuration, are usually curved to match the back of the shoe or the back of the heel of the user and may be provided in a variety of configurations. Some shoehorns are disclosed, for example, in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 969,944; Des 360,743; 1,522,922; 6,426,132; 1,913,709; Des. 258,249; 5,741,569; and 4,651,909.

In spite of the fact that there are many shoehorns known in the art, it is desirable to have a low cost convenient shoehorn which can be part of a promotional item, which lays flat for economical printing and fabrication, can be readily inserted in a mailing envelope, a catalog or publication and can easily be kept in the pocket of the user.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved shoehorn having the latter properties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoehorn which eliminates drawbacks of earlier systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a shoehorn which is comprised of a member of flat sheet material configured to fit in a heel of a shoe and having at least one score line running to a lower edge of the flat sheet material and enabling bending of the flat sheet material around the heel of a user and in the heel of the shoe.

According to a feature of the invention, that member of flat sheet material can be affixed to a printed sheet by a row of perforations enabling separation of the member from the printed sheet. The member and the sheet are configured to fit flat in an envelope publication or to form a packaging insert. The shoehorn itself can also be imprinted. The member may be generally rectangular and can have at least one and preferably two rounded ends. It can also be die cut to various shapes such as cartoon characters. The material can be selected from the group which consists of polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylics, paperboard and plastic-coated paperboard . . . any rigid or semi-rigid material that is assisted in bending by at least one score line.

The thickness of the material can range between 0.008 to 0.035 inch and an ideal size can be length of about 6 inches and a width of substantially 1.5 to 3 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a shoehorn according to the invention as part of a promotional piece;

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the shoehorn at the score line;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the use of the shoehorn;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another shoehorn configuration;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a shoehorn having a plurality of score lines; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views of other shoehorns.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a shoehorn with a special shape.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 I have shown a promotional item which may comprise a shoehorn 10, according to the invention, which is connected by a row of perforations 11 to a printed sheet 12 which can bear printed matter 13. The shoehorn 10 can also be imprinted at 14. The shoehorn 10 is here of rectangular shape and has a score line 15 running to one end 16. The score line has been shown as an indentation in FIG. 2 between two wings 17 and 18 which can bend toward one another when the shoehorns 10 is inserted into a shoe 19 along the back 20 thereof. The shoehorn 10, separated from the remainder of the sheet 12 can be inserted between the heel of the shoe and the heel of the user to assist the user in putting on the shoe.

In FIG. 4, the shoehorn is elongated and has rounded ends 21 and 22 and the score line 23 extends from end to end. In FIG. 5, I have shown a shoehorn provided with a plurality of score lines 24 to increase its flexibility. The shoehorn 25 of FIG. 6 has a narrow end 26 and a wide end 27 at which the score line 28 terminates.

In FIG. 7, the shoehorn 29 has two lobes 30 and 31 for wide and narrow shoes, respectively, each having a score line 32, 33.

In FIG. 8 the shoehorn has a special shape 34 to conform to the printed graphics 35, in addition to score line 36.

The size of the shoehorn can ideally range from 1½″ wide ×6″. or more long although the ideal size seems to me to be 2½″×6″. The material can be a rigid or semi-rigid plastic or paperboard. The plastic can be PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic etc. The gauge of the material should be 0.008 to 0.035″ depending of course on the size and whether it is plastic or paperboard.

The product of the invention thus consists of a flat piece of rigid plastic, or paperboard, or lamination, which can be die cut or guillotine cut into a rectangular or oval or dumbbell shape with one or more scores going in the longitudinal direction so that, in use as a shoe horn, the flat piece would take on a curved shape to wrap around the heel. It is most economical to manufacture and lends itself to low cost multi-color printing so that it would serve as a give-away promotional advertising speciality that could also be distributed inserted in an envelope for mailing.

The shoehorn can also be packaged inside a shoe, if desired, as a giveaway. 

1. A shoehorn comprised of a member of flat sheet material configured to fit in a heel of a shoe and having at least one score line running to a lower edge of the flat sheet material and enabling bending of the flat sheet material around the heel of a user and in the heel of the shoe.
 2. The shoehorn defined in claim 1 wherein said member is affixed to a printed sheet by a row of perforations enabling separation of the member from the printed sheet.
 3. The shoehorn defined in claim 2 wherein said member and said sheet are configured to fit flat in an envelope.
 4. The shoehorn defined in claim 1 wherein said member is imprinted.
 5. The shoehorn defined in claim 1 wherein said member is generally rectangular.
 6. The shoehorn defined in claim 1 wherein said member is elongated and has at least one rounded end.
 7. The shoehorn defined in claim 1 wherein said material is selected from the group which consists of polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylics, paperboard and plastic-coated paperboard.
 8. The shoehorn defined in claim 7 wherein said material has a thickness of 0.008 to 0.035 inch.
 9. The shoehorn defined in claim 8 wherein said member has a length of about 6 inches and a width of substantially 1.5 to 3 inches.
 10. The shoehorn defined in claim 1 disposed in an interior of a shoe and packaged therewith. 